There's no way to know for sure how the plastic cutting board made its way into our oven where it melted into a toxic-fumed pile of goo. I have my suspicions, though. If they are correct, that will mean two "Ramona Quimby" moments in one week. The other being when I went to check on why he was taking so long in the bathroom and discovered he had squeezed a whole tube of toothpaste into the sink.
In October 2004 (basically over the course of the whole month), I fell in love with a very good friend of mine. It turned my whole world upside down and changed everything for the better. To celebrate that happening eight years ago, I thought I'd share a few songs that make me think of us and the life we've built together.
Song #3: "January Wedding" by The Avett Brothers
"True love is not the kind of thing you should turn down."
I loved this song the first time I heard it because it was released a few months after we had our own January wedding. For the longest time, we weren't sure whether we would get married. Truth be told, having Charlie together is what made us seem most married. Nevertheless, shortly after Charlie was born, I had the opportunity to reduce my work hours to part-time and spend more time at home with our then-littlest one, and I needed access to Josh's health insurance to make it work. Pretty romantic, huh?
Actually, treating our wedding like a minor administrative function turned out to be quite romantic. It was a freezing cold Monday in January when we got married at the courthouse. It was Chinese New Year, the first day of the Year of the Ox, a very practical sign (being an ox, I should know). I forgot my camera, so there are no actual pictures of us getting married, which is probably good since Charlie was sick and had thrown up on me at least three times that day and I didn't feel much like being photographed. We didn't have any rings (I got mine later, Josh still doesn't have one).
Nevertheless when we stood there saying our vows, beautifully written by the judge who married us, it felt exactly like a celebration of our relationship should. We were just a couple of best friends, raising kids together that were grown up enough to know that responsibility only enhances true love.
In October 2004 (basically over the course of the whole month), I fell in love with a very good friend of mine. It turned my whole world upside down and changed everything for the better. To celebrate that happening eight years ago, I thought I'd share a few songs that make me think of us and the life we've built together.
Song #2: "Kathleen" by Josh Ritter
"Every heart is a package tangled up in knots someone else tied."
Over ten years ago, I was working at a non-profit and Josh started working there a few weeks later. I still remember the first time I saw him standing outside my cubicle looking distinctly Alaskan in his brimmed, wool-felt hat and parka. I remember thinking, I have no context for this person as I've never seen anyone quite like him. I guess I'd never seen the Northern Lights before. He remembers my flashing eyes peering at him with energy, curiousity, and their ever-present suspicion. We didn't fall in love until a couple of years later, but somehow, on that day, we got connected to each other for good.
The thing is, eight years later, the best part of my day is still the time he walks in the door. My heart beats faster and I can't help grinning from ear to ear. Eight years later, the things that I do and think don't seem real until I share them with him. Eight years later, I know that he will do anything I ask him to do with love and a good will, and I will do the same for him without batting an eye.
How is it that two independent-minded curmudgeons could be totally ruled by each other? I guess it's what we were always looking for.
In October 2004 (basically over the course of the whole month), I fell in love with a very good friend of mine. It turned my whole world upside down and changed everything for the better. To celebrate that happening eight years ago, I thought I'd share a few songs that make me think of us and the life we've built together.
Song #1: "Take It From Me" by the Weepies
"Funny how it's hard to take a love with no sting."
When we first got together, Josh and I had a lot of damage from the relationships we had with the parents of our first children. Many times we'd be midway through an argument when we both realized we were really fighting with someone else. We built up a lot of trust for each other during those early tumultuous days and discovered that we'd found in each other the thing we'd always wanted: someone we could give absolutely everything to, who would take it and use it to make themselves into the best possible person they could be.
The best relationships are the ones where everyone gives to each other and winds up richer. So here's "a toast to the plan we've made to live like kings." With each other, we are wealthier than we could have ever imagined.
The last two autumns were rough on me for various reasons and had me wondering if fall and I just don't get along. This year, however, I've been feeling much more positive about the season, enjoying every last moment of the magical light and colors before they fade away into winter.
Now, I can't vouch for how I'll feel when they do that silly daylight savings time thing and wreak havoc on light-sensitive types like me by exaggerating the already growing darkness, but if I'm going to feel good through October and November any year, this one will definitely be it. Here are some tricks that have kept me happy so far:
Getting outside everyday. Keeping in touch with nature keeps me feeling more positive about its changes.
Dressing for the weather, not the calendar. Since temperatures have stayed so warm, I've only worn socks two times since Labor Day. Why do bare feet make me so happy? Perhaps because it makes the transition seem gentler.
Feeding my senses. Autumn is encouraging my creativity, with all the visual beauty inspiring my photography and the bounty at the farmer's market fueling my desire to cook delicious food.
Embracing slower rhythms. This working from home thing definitely suits me. Especially this time of year because I don't have to get moving in the morning until after the light comes in fully. I can also use the earlier dark as an excuse to knock off early and snuggle in with all my lovelies. Productivity is overrated.
It makes me happy to welcome October and embrace and enjoy change rather than feeling like I'm struggling against it.
September ended sun-drenched, still and warm.
Dry showers of leaves flew against the bright blue sky
Twirling downward to create a skittering, crunching carpet.
We walked together as three generations
With instinctual understanding
Of the beauty of the cycles of life.
